Weather-Related Emergencies

Extreme Heat Emergencies

Temperatures if 90° F (32.2° C) or above with high humidity may cause the following life-threatening conditions:

Heat Cramps:

Painful muscle spasms of the leg and abdomen.  Use firm pressure on cramping muscles or massage area gently.  Let person sip water.  If person becomes sick, discontinue giving water.

Heat Exhaustion:

A form of shock that occurs when the body loses too much water and too many electrolytes through very heavy sweating after exposure to heat.  Symptoms include heavy sweating, light-headedness, dizziness, weak pulse, and cold clammy skin.  Fainting and vomiting may occur.  Move the person to a cooler place and treat for shock (raise legs 8-12 inches).  Apply a cool, wet cloth.  Sips of water are okay.  Seek medical attention if vomiting continues.

Heat Stroke:

This results when a person has been in a hot environment for a long period of time, overwhelming the body’s sweating mechanism.  Very life-threatening.  Body temperature must be lowered quickly.  Skin is hot, red, and dry.  Pulse is rapid or strong.  Unconsciousness is likely.  Arrange for rapid transport to a medical facility for further treatment.  Quickly remove person from the heat to a cool place.  Loosen or remove restrictive clothing.  Soak the victim with water.  Give no fluids.

Extreme Cold Emergencies

Hypothermia:

Life-threatening condition.  A person’s body temperature falls when the body cannot produce heat as fast as it is being lost.  Condition is marked with slurred speech, stumbling, and drowsiness.  If the person’s temperature drops below 95° F (35° C), death may occur. Seek professional medical attention.  If medical service is delayed, gently wrap person in a warm blanket and cover the head.

Frostbite:

Body tissue freezes, marked by a loss of feeling.  Seek medical attention immediately.  Rewarming of frostbite seldom needs to take place outside a medical facility.  Areas subject to freezing are nose, earlobes, fingers, and toes.

Lightning and Electrical Contacts

Lightning:

Lightning is produced by thunderstorms.  Lightning strikes may occur 5 to 15 minutes from the center of storm activity.  The general rule from the National Weather Service is, “If you can hear thunder, proceed indoors”.  If outside, the following practices can provide some protection from lightning strikes:

1. Remove jewelry, coins, or other metallic objects that may attract lightning.
2. Stay away from tall objects that attract lightning, such as trees or antennas.
3. If  in a hardtop vehicle, stay inside the vehicle.
4. Before lightning strikes, hair on the head stands up.  Crouch or squat close to the ground, minimizing electrical contact.  Keep feet together.

First Aid / Follow-up for Lightning / Electrical Contact:

After a person has made contact with lightning, be sure the place is safe to enter.  If so, open the person’s airway and check for breathing and signs of circulation (breathing, coughing, movement, and pulse).  If none is present, begin cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).  Contact and exit burns may be present.  Call for professional medical help after all contacts with lightning and high voltages of electricity.  The severity of injuries caused by electrical contact is not always initially apparent and the victim may seem fine.

If a witness to electrical contact is available, the witness should accompany the victim to the hospital and be available to answer the physician’s questions.  If electrical contact was made from another electrical source, survey the scene to make sure the victim is free from electrical contact, or shut off the electrical power source before assisting the victim.

Floods

Purpose:  In the event of a flood, all personnel will respond as outlined in this procedure to protect the employees and property of this facility.

• Emergency Communications:  2-Way Radios
• Local Emergency Management Contact:  Sandy Hoilman, Vice President for Administrative Services / Chief Financial Officer
• Primary Phone Number:  (828) 448-6025 (work)
• Secondary Phone Number: (828) 874-2549
• This Site’s Emergency Cell Phone Number:  (828) 443-4766

Local Utility Contact Information:

• Chief of Public Safety:  Mark Tolbert, Emergency Communication Center (828) 437-1211 or (828) 438-5290
• Water Company:  Don Danford (828) 438-5276
• Electrical Company:  Dan Brown (828) 438-5277
• Gas Company:  no contact person’s name (828) 438-4880 or 1-800-752-7504 (24/7)
• Telephone Company:  Company could not provide any number except 611
• Sewer Provider:  Don Danford (828) 438-5285
• City Street Department:  Scott Luckadoo (828) 438-5247
• County Street Department:  Public Works (828) 439-4391

Flood Emergency Shutdown and Evacuation

• The President, and/or Vice Presidents will determine when to issue the order to follow established shutdown procedures to secure and protect the facility from the effects of a flood.
• Selected essential personnel will remain to complete these procedures as long as they are safely able to do so. Transportation will need to be provided.
• Nonessential personnel will be released to evacuate. Off-duty employees will be contacted not to come to work.
• Flooded roads: Employees should never enter flood waters on foot or in a vehicle. Half of all flood-related deaths occur in vehicles. Vehicles become inoperable when water causes electrical system failure.  Occupants may become trapped in the vehicle and drown. All downed power lines are to be avoided.
• Utility considerations:  If the building is subject to flood damage, gas, water, and electrical power should be isolated.
• All fuel tanks and bottled gases need to be secured and isolated.
• Selected stay-behind crew will check the following systems: status of portable water pumps to remove floodwater, alternate power sources for generators, battery-powered emergency lighting systems, etc.

Food and Water Contamination:

Floodwater Contact:   Food and drinking water that comes in contact with floodwater needs to be discarded.  Boil all drinking water and eating utensils before use.

Red Cross Shelters and Services:

If temporary housing is needed for employees, The Director of Crisis Management will stay in contact with facility employees to keep them informed and determine their needs for temporary shelter.  In the event of an emergency, contact the Red Cross to confirm the location of the open shelters in our area.

Other services the Red Cross provides include cleanup kits, mobile feeding, vouchers for food and clothing, critical stress debriefing, temporary shelters, damage estimates for FEMA, emergency structure repair, and incident debriefing.

American Red Cross Burke County Chapter Phone:  (828) 438-8844;   Nights, weekends and holidays    (828) 437-1911.

Hurricanes

Hurricane Watch:  A hurricane watch means that a hurricane is possible within 24 to 36 hours.  Stay tuned for advisories.  Tune to local radio and television stations for additional information.  Be alert to evacuate as advised.

Hurricane Warning:  A hurricane warning means that a hurricane will hit within 24 hours.  Take precautions at once.  If advised, evacuate immediately.

Purpose:  In the event of a hurricane, all personnel will respond as outlined in this procedure to protect personnel and property of this facility.

Emergency Communications:  2-Way Radios

Local Hurricane Emergency Management Contact: Sandy Hoilman, Vice President for Administrative Services / Chief Financial Officer

Primary Phone: (828) 448-6025 (work)

Secondary Number:  (828) 874-2549 (home)

This Site’s Emergency Cell Phone  Number(s): (828) 443-4766

Emergency Shutdown:

• The President, and/or Vice Presidents will issue the order to follow established shut down procedures to secure and protect the facility from the effects of a hurricane.
• Selected essential emergency personnel will remain to complete these procedures as long as they are safely able to do so.  Other personnel will be released to evacuate.
• Check the following systems: Portable pumps to remove flood water, alternate power sources such as generators or gasoline powered pumps, battery powered emergency lighting, etc.
• Secure and brace windows, doors, and large service doors.

Tornadoes

Tornado Watch Vs. Tornado Warning

Knowing the difference between a watch and a warning can be a lifesaver.

• A tornado watch means conditions are right for a tornado to form.  Keep apprised of weather conditions and be ready to take shelter.
• A tornado warning means that a funnel cloud or tornado has been spotted in the area. Take shelter immediately in case a tornado approaches.

The telephone number for the local radio station (WMNC – Morganton) is (828) 437-0521

Non-emergency numbers for the local fire and police departments are as follows:

• Police Department:  Morganton Department of Public Safety  (828) 437-1211
• Fire Department:  County Fire Marshall (828) 433-6609
• Additional information:   The Director of Crisis Management will monitor the all-hazard weather radio on-site.

Purpose:  In the event of a tornado, all facility occupants must move to a safe area within the building as outlined in this procedure.  Go to an interior room; but never to an inside corner.  Flying debris collect in corners when a structure is breached.

In the event of a tornado, an Emergency Message System will be broadcast throughout the college’s computer network system and Security will sound a siren.  The following is a sample announcement: “A tornado emergency exists—proceed to a safe area.”  The Searchers will proceed through their areas, ensuring all employees have heard the announcement.

Duties of Employees

The duties of the Emergency Coordinator, Stairwell Monitors, Searchers, and all employees are basically the same as they are in a general evacuation.  However, instead of leaving the building, occupants will go to the closest designated safe areas.  (Areas below ground level are preferred).

In the safe area, the Director of Crisis Management will direct Emergency Trained Personnel to instruct students, faculty and staff when to kneel down in a fetal position facing a wall and cover their heads with their arms, until the all-clear signal is given.

If visual weather updates are needed, observers will be posted around the building to watch for funnel clouds.

Safest Areas

It is vital that all employees know that there is no such thing as a safe area in the event of a tornado.  However, there are safer areas within any building. These are identified as follows.

Tornado Shelter Areas